Commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance

by Red Skelton

As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of
the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually
recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his
own.

I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without
self-pity.

Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.

To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol
of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her
a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.

United - - That means that we have all come together.

States - - Individual communities that have united into
forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity
and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose,
and that is love for country.

And to the Republic - - Republic--a state in which sovereign
power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government
is the people; and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the
people.

For which it stands

One Nation - - One Nation--meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live
one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.

And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing
fairly with others.

For All - - For All--which means, boys and girls, it's as much
your country as it is mine.

And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to
the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all.

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words
have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity
if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?

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